Crawling traction truck



Nov. 11, 1930. B. s. FERGUSON 1,781,170

CRAWLING TRACTION TRUCKS Filed Oct. 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l /6 /NV/VTOR 1 BERLIN 5. FERGUSON.

Nov. '11, 1930. B. s. FERGUSON, 1,781,170

CRAWLING TRACTI ON TRUCKS Filed Oct. 1, 1927 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig; ZJ

26 INVEWTOR. 55% //v 5. FERGUSON. 2 i ,4 TTQRNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED era-res mama BERLIN s. FERGUSON, or MARION, 01 110; nssrenon, BY MESNYE AssremvrEN'rs, 'lO 'li-IE MARION STEAM SHOVEL comrenv, 1927 or 1YIARIQN, onro, A oonronarronor OHIO em wmne zrnnorron 'rrwo Application filed October 1, 192 Serial No. 223,415.

This invention relates to crawling traction trucks and is designed more particularly for use in connection with power shovels or other excavating machines of that type which is 5, supported by a plurality of separate trucks; Such machines are often of great weight and inasmuch as they operate over surfaces which are irregular, and it isinecessary for the trucks to accommodate themselves to the irregulari-- vices for the crawling traction elements willbe mounted on one of the movable truck membersand will be so arranged that they will not be affected by or their operation interfered with by the movements of the truck.

Other objects of the invention'will appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. Iisja side elevation, partly broken away, ofa truck embodying my 1nvent1on; Fig. 2 1s a trans;

verse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.-

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as designed for use with a propelling and steering mechanism such as is shown in my co-pending application filed October 1, 1927, Serial No. 223,415.

It will be understood, however, that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that the mechanism may take various forms without departing from the'spirit of the invention.

In that particular embodiment here illustrated-the truck comprises two frame members, one ofwhich is'pivota-lly mounted'on'the other for movement, about a longitudinal axis and is provided with means whereby the crawling traction devices may be pivotally mounted thereon for movement about, .a transverse axis and, further, thetruckas a ties of the supporting surface, the trucks are whole is mountedforlvertical movement and for movement abouta vertical axis to permit steering movement I to be imported thereto. As here shown, the truck comprises an upper frame member 5which is provided with alined bearings; Preferably this upper frame member has depending arms 6' and 7" which give to the frame member substantially an inverted Ushape. -Thelbearings 8 and 9 are formed in the lower portions of these'depending arms. Mountsd between" the arms of the upper frame member is a lower frame member 10' which has longitudinally extending trunnions ll journaled in bearings 8 and 9, respectively, so that this second or lower frame membermay rock about a longitu'dinal Preferably this second frame member is elongated transversely to the truck and is provided at the respective sidesthere'of with other'trunnions 12 and 13, which extend transversely to the trunnions- 81 and 9.

Arranged on the respective sides of the truck are crawling traction devices which comprise longitudinal frame members 14: ournaled between their ends, respectively, on the trun-' nions 12 and 13. Botatably mounted on each frame member 14 and near the respective endsthereof are tumblers 15, one only of which is shown in Fig. 1, and extending about these tumblers is the usual endless track 16." It will be apparent, therefore, that the crawling traction devices or elements can have independent movement about atransverse axis to enable the same to tilt as; they move'over obstructions and that'these crawling traction devices also havemovement about a' longitudinal axis toenable one to pass over a surf Vface h gher than that upon which the other is supported; v I L The second or lower frame member 1O has in its upper portion a transverse bearing 17 in which is mounted a shaft 18 adapted to be connected with a suitable drii' ing anti hesis,- such, for example, as that shown inthe above mentioned application, and" wli'iclf'is here sho'wn asxprovided with a universal connect ing device 19. As here showmthe'beariiig117 is divided into'two parts which arespacecl apart to receive between them a pini'OnQO which is rigidlysecured to the's haft 18 and cured" a gear 26 which mesheswith: the idle, gear 21, Thisshaft'25 is also supported by I injur Y 7 frame member islan upwardly extending p'lunger'30 which is slidably monntedifin'a cylinder; 31 mounted in a frame 82fand adaptedjto contain a'fiuidtocontrolthe moveand a member 36 is inserted inxtlie samewith" tion which extends through the 'opening lt andis seated at itsin the frame member 0 lower end in theopening 35,:thus rein forcing I the plunger and bracing'the same against the 1 strains to which it is subjected, The plunger is of course capable of movement about a which meshes with an idle pinion 21 carried by a shaft 22 journaled n bearings 23 carried nions-12; and 13 'i-sa. shaft 25 to WhlCl'ldS se bearings 27 arranged in the central portion of the" framemember adjacent to therespee .ti-ve 'sidesofthe gear 26; The shaft .25 pro jects beyond the respective trunnions and 13 and has Secured to the outei'fends thereof? i "vices being capable of movenient about both the gears ofa train of gears, shown at 29 in .Fig. 1, whichfeonnects the shaft-25 witho'negearsi28 e'ach'of which mesl'ieswith one of of the tumblers 15 of the crawling traction devieeand thus causes the-endless track 16 to travelabout the' -fraine-meniber l4.- It, will be noted that. this actuating mechanism is carried wholly by the'lower frame member'aiid I that its. arrangement 'is such that its opera 1' :tion will not be aifectedby any of the moves Ineiitsof'this frame'memberf l urtheij'itwill be apparent that thels'evera'l gears 205121 an d 26, are enclosed; within the frame member; withtheexception of the upper portion of, the gear20,thus protecting these gears from Rigidly mounted ,upoii the topiof theiipper ment. of the plunger; 1 The cylinder is con znected by a pipe'33-with the cylinders of the a. other trucks ofthe same machine and forms: "a part of an equalizingmeehanism which per mit s the several trucks to have vertical movement with relation to the frame 32 and'whiclr' serves'to; maintain that frame in'a. substant ally horizontal position.

member 5 is hollow and has in the top wall the opening 3 L T-he plungerisliollow adrivingfit and hasa reduced lower end norf vertical. aXis'in the cylinder, thereby permit may be imparted to the truck the'frame meniber 5 has a longitudinally extending portion or arm adapted to be connected with a suitable steering mechanism. As here shown, it

is provided atits outer end withaniit 38 .to "rece ve auscrew'threaded, steering shaft. 39,

ties in the surface" over which the tri the actuating devices. for the endless belts of y andiexcluding dirt and forei'gnmatter I therefrom. v

I In the present construction, theupper portionof the frame sue-has is shown-inthe above mentioned ap- .plicationi by the lower frame member 10. Extending transversely through the lower frame men1- berioand journaled in bearings 24 in the trun-- to resistthe strains to whichsuch a truck is subjected. Further, itwill'he apparent that the truck isio-fsuch a charaeterthat it will accommodate itself to, any and all,irregularik is movingythetruck itself being capablefof vertic'al movementand the crawling traction d'e longitudinal and tra'nsverse axes. Further,

the crawling traction elements are mounted within one of the movable truckmembers where they. are fully protected and are so ar-, ranged that'they cannotbe affected byyrany movement of the truelei I v a a 1 While I have shown and described oiie em,-

7 bodimentof my invention ldvishit to be understoodthatlido notdesiretobe limited to the details 'thereofa's various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the. art;

Having vnow fully described my. invention, what I claim} as new and desire tosecureby Letters Patent, is;

I '1. Inja crawling traction truck, a frame.

ing depending parts arranged near the front" and rearends thereof and spaced apart, a second frame. arranged between and pivot- 'ally.mounted on said depending parts for movement about an axis extending lengthwise ofsaid truck, and projecting laterally,

.said second frame for independent movement about a common axis transverserto .the'first; 'mentionedaxis. o r

a 2* In a crawling traction truck, a frame extending lengthwise"of 'said'truck and having depending parts arranged near thefront and rearoends thereof and spaced apart, and

having alined bearings, an enlongate'dfra ne? arranged between said depending parts and having trunnions rigid therewith, extending;

tran verselythereto and journaled in said! bearings, said elongated frame lULVlIIgiPOI tioiis projecting oii the opposite sides of the first mentioned frame andico nprising alined' 6 -I trunnions, and crawling tra 'ti n' d i s:-

having frame members'jou'rnaled on the re spective lastmentioned trunnions. i v 3. In 'a,crawling, traction truck, shame having-means for movably connectingthe 1 5 same with a structure to be supported by said truck and having depending parts 'nearthe front and rear ends thereof, said depending parts being spaced 1 one from the other and;

having lalined bearings a second "frame? 130 extending lengthwise of said truck andha-v- 1 melanomounted between said depending parts, ha v-i ing ltrunnions j ournal'ed insaid bearings and having other trunnions pro ecting beyond the respective sides of th'E'fi'I'St-HIBIIUOHBCl frame,

and alined'one with the other, and crawling traction devices on the respective sides ofthe first mentioned frame and comprising "frame members ournaled between theirends on therespective last mentioned t-runnions.

47111 a crawling traction truck, a frame having depending arms spaced apart length wise ofsa'id truck andhaving alined bear ings, a second frame extendingtransversely to the first mentioned frame and having its body portion mounted" between said farms,

said body portion having trunnions "journaledin said bearings and having other trunnions extending beyond the respective sides of said, first mentioned frame, and crawling traction devices having frame members jour in line one with the'other, said trunnions being so arranged that the axis of one pair will substantially intersect the axis of the other paiiyjthe trunnions of one pair being mounted in the bearings of the first mentioned frame, and crawling traction devices arranged on the opposite sides of said first mentioned frame and comprising frame members journaled on the trunnions of the other pair.

6. In a crawling traction truck, a frame having depending arms spaced apart lengthwise of said truck and having alined bearings, a plunger rigidly secured to and extending upwardly from said frame and mounted for vertical movement and for movement about a vertical axis, a second frame mounted between the arms, having trunnions j ournaled in said bearings and having other trunnions extending transversely to said truck, and crawling traction devices having frame members journaled on the respective last mentioned trunnions.

7. In a crawling traction truck, a frame having depending arms spaced apart lengthwise of said truck and having alined bearings, means for connecting said frame with a structure to be supported for movement about a vertical axis with relation to said structure, said frame also having a part eX- tending lengthwise of said truck for moving the same about said vertical axis, a second frame mounted between said arms, having trunnions journaled in said bearings and having other trunnions extending transversely to said truck, and crawling tract-ion devices having frame members journaledon the respective last mentioned trunnions.

8. In a crawling traction truck, a frame 'havin de enclin arms rovided with alined bearings and having a socket in the upper portion thereof a plunger rigidly secured to said frame and having a part seated in said socket, a second frame mounted between said arms and having trunnions ournaled 1n the respective bearings and having other trun-- nions extendingtransversely to the first mentioned trunnions, and crawling traction devices having frame members journaledon the respective last mentioned trunnions. I

9.. Ina crawling ;traction truck,"*a frame havinga hollow 'upper portion provided witi ii openings in the upper and lower walls there of and -,a-lso havingfdepending armsprovided with bear1ngs,'a hollow plunger rigidly'ise cured to :said frame in line with said open bers ournaled on the respective :last men tioned'trunmons.

10. vIn a crawling ing trunnions journailed' in said earings and having other trunnions" extending transversely tol the *first nientioned "trunnions, crawling tra ctioii'devices having frame mema b'ers journal'ed "on-the respective last mam tioned t-runnions',"a shaft journaled in; said u last mentioned:trunn1ons,means for coni iecting said shaft with driving mechanism, and

means for op-eratively connecting s'ai'dshaft with said crawling traction devices.

11-. In a crawling traction ti'uclnla frame having alined bearings, a second frame hav ing trnnn-ions extending lengthwiseof said truck and journaled in said bearings, said; second frame being elongated transversely 't o said truck and havingat-its lateral ends trun-'-' nions, a shaft extending through said second frame andjonrnaled in said trunii1on's,-craivlmg traction devices having frame in-embers journaled on the respective last mentioned trunnions, and means for operative'ly con necting said shaft with'the respective 'icrawl- 111g traction devices. I

ingsand having a partfmounted therein, tending through said topsiwall and seated in the opening in said lower wall, a second frame mounted between said arms and=having trun-' nions journaled in the respective'bearings and having other trunnions .i extending t -ra'ns-- versely to the first mentioned trunni'onsmnd crawling traction devices having frame meinl traction triuclg a ante having almed bea1 1ng's,1 a second fram'e hav i 12. In a crawl'ng traction truck, a snbstanf tially U sha'ped framev nember having near their lower ends with alined b ari s,

and having a rigid arm ezitendi-ng'lengt w se o'f saidtruck, a secondfram-emember mount e'd' between said armsandhaving trunnions journaled in the respective bearings, said-seco'nid frame havrng'a hollow intermed ate por-.

nions at the respective sidesthereo-f,

ts armseXten'dirIg downwardly an d prov ded members journaled t on the last mentioned 'trunnions, a second shaft ourna-led' in said 7 t second-frame member, a gear train arranged crawling tractionidevicesi 1 tllQifilStlllGIltlOIlBCl shaft with the respective in the 'hollow'portion' of said second frame member fand, cope'r'atively connecting" said shafts, and means foroperativelyconnecting 13. In a crawling; traction truck, a frame 7 b i'havingfazhollow upperportion provided -w1thopen1ngs 1n, the upper andlower walls thereof, a plunger rigidly secured to said frame, in'linewith saidopenings andhaving a rigid part extending through the opening r is:

I ing traction devices supporting said'frame.

in the top 'Wall :of said. frame, and into the opening in the lowerwall'thereof, and crawl-- and mounted for tilting movement with re lation thereto} r i p v 14. In a power drivencrawling traction mechanism whiclr'comprises a, structure to o hereto.- 7

frame extending lengthwise of i said truck unit, a second frame pivotally mounte'd"on q said truck frame for -movement about an axis extending lengthwise of said truck frame, crawling tractiondevices' pivot-ally mounted on said 'second f-ramefon opposite sides of said truck frame, anda plunger car-0;; ried by said truck-frame andsmounted in r saidequalizing- 'cylindertocoi1t-rol the. v'ert-i caLmovement of said truck unit. p In testimony whereof, Iafiix my signature V b supportedqandan equalizing device hav a I ing a cylinder mounted on said structure and provided with means for connecting the same with another equalizing cylinder .on f 7 said structure, anzindividual' truck unitaare ranged directly below. 'said equalizing cylinder v fimvertic-al bodily movement with re-' 1 1 lation tofsaid structureand including a truck" '30; un1t,ia crawlingtractlondevlce having sup frame 1 "extending lengthwise of said 1 truck porting connection with said truck frame I plunger. carried by said truck frame and i movablymounted in said equalizing cylin' I i f der to control, the vertical movement o'f said truck unit.

15. In, ajgpowerfdriven crawling traction mechanism which comprises a structure to 'be supported and 7 an equalizing device havilng a cylinder mounted on said structureand ,provided with means, for connecting the same withfanother equalizing cylinder on fsaid structure, an individual truck unit ar-i I ranged directly below 'saidequalizing cyl-' inder for vertical bodily movement'withrei lati'on tosaid structure and including atruck unit, a crawling traction device having supporting connection with said truckframe' v and capable of tilting movement about both T frame extending lengthwise of saidtruck" a a transverse axis and a longitudinal ;.a2':is,

S0 1 5 B EEBGUSON.

and capable of, tilting movement, and a' V and a lungerrigidly securedto said truck 7 frame and mounted in saidjequalizing cylinde f' fOrLVcrticalmovement to control the vertical bodily. movement of Y said truck unit and for movement about a-Yerticalaxis to saidtruck unitg v 1 6, lnfapowerfdriven Ycrawlingit'r action I I permitsteering movement to be .impartedto V mechanism which comprises a structure to obe-supported and an equal zing dBVICBllLV- q ing a cylinder mounted on saidstructureia'nd i provided with means for connecting the 7 same with another/equalizing cylinder on, 

